MONTREAL/TORONTO, AUG 13 (IANS): Brandon Nakashima and defending champion Ben Shelton set up an all-American final at the Canadian Open in Montreal, while Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina advanced to the women’s singles final in Toronto on Wednesday.
Nakashima ended the impressive run of Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar with a 7-6(3), 6-4 victory to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final.
The 25-year-old American served strongly and attacked effectively at the net to overcome Jodar in two hours and four minutes. He saved four break points while serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set before sealing victory.
Nakashima, who was playing his maiden Masters 1000 semifinal, registered his fifth Top-20 win of the season and is guaranteed to reach a career-high ranking. He will face Shelton for the title on Thursday.
Shelton, the defending champion, defeated compatriot Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3 to reach his second consecutive Canadian Open final.
The 10th-ranked American has not dropped a set in Montreal and will now bid for his fourth title of the season and second Masters 1000 crown.
The result set up the first all-American Masters 1000 final since 2003, when Andy Roddick defeated Mardy Fish in Cincinnati.
In Toronto, former world No. 1 Swiatek battled past Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to reach her first WTA Tour final in nearly a year.
Swiatek made a strong start, winning the opening four games, but Svitolina fought back to dominate the second set. The Ukrainian then broke early in the deciding set to lead 3-2, before Swiatek produced a decisive turnaround.
The Pole won the final four games, including two breaks, to secure victory and reach her 14th WTA 1000 final.
She will face second seed Elena Rybakina, who overcame fourth-seeded Coco Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Gauff took the opening set after a late break but struggled to maintain her level thereafter. Rybakina broke early in the second set and continued to dominate as the American’s errors mounted.
The Kazakhstani won the final five games of the deciding set to complete the comeback and book her place in the Toronto final.